Land acknowledgement In the spirit of respect, reciprocity and truth, we honour and acknowledge Moh’kinsstis, and the traditional Treaty 7 territory and oral practices of the Blackfoot confederacy: Siksika, Kainai, Piikani, as well as the Îyâxe Nakoda and Tsuut’ina nations. We acknowledge that this territory is home to the Métis Nation of Alberta, within the historical Northwest Métis homeland. Finally, we acknowledge all Nations – Indigenous and non – who live, work and play on this land, and who honour and celebrate this territory. •Kalum Teke Dan: The idea for this design is to show the origins of the land The image of the chief showed is protecting the land. The people at the centre in unity and the running horse is traveling into the present showing the time transition to the present. The whole mural can share the same sun and rocky mountain landscape in the horizon symbolizing we’re all under the same sun even through out time. •Christiane Olguin: Focussed on the co-op, diversity, and community. The clasped hand = community The people surrounding the clasped hands = community interdependent The colours of the people = diversity The rainbow is in the Co-op Flag colours representing the co-operative values, along with Kalum’s galloping horse = moving into the future. •Jared Tailfeathers: Petroglyphs (carving) and pictographs (drawing/painting) are rock drawings that are the oldest form of art in the world, it is present on all continents and with various designs and symbols that represent teachings, ways of life, animals, geography, spirituality and cultural identity. It was also a way to commemorate a grand meeting of nations and to make treaty. I want to paint the mural surface like it is a rock wall, made to look like the sandstone that is natural to the Calgary area, with details to make it look natural and realistic. I will then paint the symbols of the Treaty 7 Nations in the middle as the original inhabitants, local plant/animal symbols, a symbol that represents myself, symbols to represent the first settlers, a symbol that represents your Housing Co-op organization (logo probably), and then I will invite members of your Ramsay community Housing Co-op to add a symbol that represents either themselves, their ethnocultural background, country flag or simply a hand print. All community members will be invited to participate. All of the paints will be in the ochre colors of earth-based paints that people can use for their own additions. Ihtsi-pai-tapi-yopa (Blackfoot) is the name for The Essence of Life or Source of All Life. All things are made equal, humans, plants, animals, rocks, and the Earth itself are beings that are very much alive. Everything has its purpose and use; wasting a resource that has been gifted or received is outside of the balance that is lived within the larger ecosystem. We ask, we honor, and we give offering, prayers, and songs back to the resource and life that is given. The community balance works in the same way, using all the best additions (skills and talents) from the community members to fulfill the best ways for the community.